Couple of questions spring to mind, neither of which answers your question - what type of 'laurel' are you expecting to 'go around' your arch? Do you mean you're trying to train it to grow up and over it? Or just let it grow next to it? There are three types of plant commonly called laurel - Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica) Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and sometimes, Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis). None of these are obvious candidates for growing over or up an arch, but more usually are left to grow as free standing shrubs/trees.

Second question is, how big is the arch in terms of height and width, and the gap between the vertical supports? A photo would be helpful.

Stating the obvious perhaps but clematis, climbing roses, honeysuckle, jasmine.... All subject to soil type and other environmental factors.
Laurel isn't a climber and all it will do is grow into a shrub - probably on the tree side of big.

that's what I thought about Laurel too.
A robust Spring flowering Clematis like a Montana always does well on an arch and will establish itself within a couple of years.

To avoid future competition with the laurel, maybe a climbing annual, such as sweet pea, or Black-Eyed Susan vine?